Finally!!! The Final Chapter is here!!!
To all my readers, I love you and I thank you. Here are a few words:
To Dragon of Zanarkand:
This ain't actually a reply. Just to say that your fic (Torn Past) rocks! I suppose you got my dramatic review for it. (^_^)
To Darkleena:
Yo there, otsel! (You were transformed 2 one after that argument with Gol, right? Read it in ur bio) Is the story confusing? God, I am so sorry. I got carried away with the words and the ideas just go haywire. But I'm glad you liked my fic. You can check out the Glossary for more details. Thanks!
That kinda goes for the rest of you guys. Feel free to say something about the characters and how you feel about them. As for me, I kinda admire Raven's stingy, badass attitude. Oh yeah, and also feel free to ask any questions.
All right, enough of my relentless yakking. Enjoy!
VAE VICTUS! Thraxenel ...................................
Erol, Raven, Daxter and Torn ran up towards the upper chambers until they suddenly came upon another cave-like chamber. From their safe stone perch, they could see that the wide room below was occupied by a gigantic dragon- like Metalhead. All around it were large clumps of its foul black eggs, which were guarded by more smaller Metalheads. Right in the middle of the turmoil were the girls, Samos and young Denelle.
Torn: There must be about fifty of them down there, not to mention that big one.
Daxter: How are we ever gonna rescue them?
Raven: (Eyes scanning the area) I've an idea. You see that hole over there?
Raven pointed to a large hole in the middle of the wall not too far away from them. It led into a small crammed tunnel about thirty feet across. Its walls were lined with vicious looking stalagtites.
Raven: I'll distract the big one and bring it into the tunnel. Maybe I can find a way to kill it there. Here.
He took out two extra pistols and a collapsible scattergun and handed them to Torn and Erol. (I wonder where he kept them in the first place?)
Raven: As for you three, find a way to rescue your friends and stay alive while you're at it.
Torn: That's it?! That's your plan??
Raven: (Irritably) You got any better ideas?
Torn: Rav-
Too late, the vampire had already leaped down from the stone edge and dropped right in the midst of the Metalheads. The Metalheads, including the big one, stood startled and stiff at his sudden appearance.
At first, Erol feared that the Metalheads were going to put a quick end to him. But instead it was Raven who struck out first, shotting the Metalhead eggs and scattering the ones protecting them. On seeing this, the big one roared in fury.
Raven: (To the big one) Didn't like that, didn't ya?
It's only response was a deafening roar and opened with jaws wide to snap him up. But just seconds before the jaws closed in where Raven had once stood, the agile vampire leaped onto its head and jumped like a lithe- footed cat onto one of the ledges near the hole.
Raven: (Laughs tauntingly)
The Metalhead screamed out an enraged shriek and lunged for him, but again Raven evaded it with another acrobatic spring, this time into the tunnel.
Raven: Come and get me!
And with that, it leapt after him into the tunnel.
Torn watched with slight concern as the large Metalhead followed Raven into the hole. He had to make sure that the big creature was left intirely on to Raven's own hands. Once he was satisfied, he gestured the other two of his friends follow him.
The two seemed to hesitate, but they followed him eitherway. Erol was the first to send his two guns rattling, followed by Torn. Daxter, however, rushed up towards his imprisoned friends.
Daxter: Tess!! Tess!!!
He ran up towards them, and stared helplessly at his blonde beloved. All of them were unconcious, strapped to a tall stalagtite by green, vine like ropes.
Daxter: (Fiddling at the ropes) Oh-er-
Torn: (Shotting the Metalheads) Well don't just stand there, Daxter! Free them!
Daxter: Err-okay.
This is gonna take a while.
Jak eventaully reached the chamber where he had been attacked in. At then end of it was the door to the power-room, with the Precursor Stone still shining in the depression on its stone carved surface.
He ran towards it.
But then suddenly something stopped him in his tracks. There was a deafening crash on the rock walls behind him, and a gigantic hole appeared. Through the cloud of dust, Jak saw something huge emerge through it .
Jak: Oh my god.
Jak's eyes fell onto a enormous, sinister looking creature. It was a Metalhead, the biggest one had had ever seen. It was ten times more spetacular than Kor, and its body was lean and serpentine instead of huge and bulky. Its face looked like a cross between a snake and a wolf, with pale, pupiless yellow eyes that bore into Jak's own sockets. Metal spikes ridged its long back, ending with cruel, jagged spines at the end of its snaking tail. It had six, long, heavily muscled arms with each foot armed with long, cruel talons. A pale fringe of membrane rose like a crown along the back and sides of its face, held up togther by thin spines. It let out a ferocious growl at Jak, baring all of its fangs at once.
Jak: Corgoth .
Corgoth: (Laughs ironically) Yes . Come closer, morsel.
Jak backed off a bit.
Corgoth: Young Jak, renegade and redeemer of Haven City. How delightful it is to finally meet Kor's famed murderer .
Jak: So you know who I am, eh? How convenient.
Corgoth: On the contrary, my boy, I know you very well. We aren't so different, atleast not physically .
Corgoth slowly began to circle him, eyes fixed on Jak
Corgoth: (circling him) I was once a Precursor like you, strong, proud and independent.
Jak: (Watches silently as the serpentine beast continued to speak)
Corgoth: Until came that fateful day when Kor, my 'dear' father, shot me with that cruel jet of Dark Eco and ended my days as a Precursor forever.
Jak: So I've heard.
Corgoth: The essence of Dark Eco corrupted me, and as it tore me apart-I 'changed'. I was-incredibly powerful, so powerful I just couldn't stop changing. I became a Dark Warrior like you, but only for a brief time.But at long last, I knew I could never find the human in me anymore.
Corgoth's eyes glowed brighter as he stared at Jak.
Corgoth: The same fate will meet you, Jak.
The words burned in Jak's heart. Was it true? Were his dark powers merely the beginning of an even bigger evil? Had Baron Praxis known that he was a Precursor, and that by creating him, he would only risk making even another stronger Metalhead like Corgoth? (*For more details, check the Glossary at the bottom of this story)
Jak: You're wrong that that!
Corgoth: Is that so? But are we not brothers, born as Precursors, but corrupted by Dark Eco?
Jak: That's where you're wrong, Corgoth. You were twisted into that monster you are by your own greed. I don't have that in me.
Corgoth: (Chuckles) Your defiance surprises me, Jak. But you know you and I weren't the only Precursors he poisoned. I suppose you know who is the other?
Jak: Mar. But he defeated Kor with those powers. He didn't change into something like you.
Corgoth: (Chuckles) Yes, he didn't. But that jet of Dark Eco did change him like it changed you and me. Because of this, he was could not feel the pure energy of the Precursor Stone; his only remaining contact to his Precursor ancestory. Guess what he did to keep his linage pure?
Jak: (Who was now entranced by the story Corgoth was telling him) What?
Corgoth: He extracted them.
Jak: (With shock) No!
Corgoth: With the help of those foolish vampires, he tore the living darkness out of his veins. He never recovered since, but his linage remained pure after that.
Jak was stunned on hearing this. If this was true, then why did the Stone shine brightly at his touch when it should rightfully in Denelle's? He was entangled in more confusing thoughts, and at this Corgoth laughed.
Corgoth: Yes, yes. Why did the Stone resonate at your touch? Why you? And why now? But that doesn't matter. So long as you still stand, I cannot touch the Stone. I'll bring you down, boy. I will kill you .
Jak: (Threateningly) Not if I do first.
Sig felt a sharp pain rush up his back as his spine collided with the wall behind him. Kronos's killer claws dug into his abdomen, but before they could become truly fatal he Sig shoved him off quickly and slammed a fist into Kronos' wolf-like face, making the bigger Hura-Lycan whine in pain.
While Kronos reeled dizzily, Sig launched himself at him and gave him as many slashes as he could muster. His claws grated against Kronos' thick metal armour, sending sparks flying into the air.
Kronos let out an enraged howl, and once again the two spectacular beasts clashed, jaws snaping to find exposed skin and claws furiously slashing each other's metal hide. Their angry growls and roars echoed on the walls around them, reverberating like the hostile drumbeats of war.
Above the warring pair were dangerously loose looking stalagtites, their pointed tips sharp enough to crush even Metalhead armour. Kronos was the first to take note of this. So on seeing it as an advantage, he whacked Sig brutally in the ribs and punched him again with shocking strenght, sending the Hura-Lycan to collide with the wall once more. Despite his reeling mind, Sig managed to dodge three stalagtites that broke off the ceiling after his collision. They came to the ground with a stomach lurching crunch, and so heavy and sharp were their tips they sunk right into the very ground.
Sig knew he couldn't just fight like this anymore. That was it. Enough defense. It was time to change tactics.
Raven leaped into the tunnel and didn't wait to see if the huge dragon Metalhead was following him. He knew by the furious roaring behind him that it was anyway.
He concentrated on his task. Using his unrivalled vampire agility he dodged the several sharp stalagtites that lined the walls of the circular tunnel, leaping across huge cracks and springing on the walls to evade the Metalhead's outstretched claws. The Metalhead didn't care of what was in its path; it simply rampaged through the spike lined tunnel, crashing into everything in its path, blinded by its rage. Raven, far from being scared, was amused at its voracious temper.
But his amusement didn't last long.
Raven saw that the tunnel had come to an end. He leaped out of the tunnel and landed on the ground in front of it, only to realize an enourmous chasm in front of him.
Raven: Damn it.
Okay, he thought. You got yourself into this, you can get yourself out. He swore to himself for not hatching up a proper plan. Now he had to find a way to get out of this mess and fast. The Metalhead was already approaching.
Torn and Erol had shot several of the smaller Metalheads that guarded the eggs, but as a dozen died, a dozen more came in hordes to replace them.
Torn: Daxter!! Hurry up and free them!
Daxter: (Furiously biting at the ropes in vain) Do you think this is easy!!!!?
Torn: Erol, go help Daxter!
Erol: (Shotting off several Metalheads that tried to snatch away the little otsel) What do you think I'm trying to do after all this time!!!?
Torn: (Growls inhumanly) Rrrrrrggghhh .THAT'S IT!
Torn tossed the half-way empty scattergun away and, to the shock of all of them, let out a furious roar that trembled the very walls of the giant chamber. Erol saw that his eyes had already glowed a furious white, and in the next second metal armour and spines revealled themselves on Torn's skin, changing him once again into a Metalhead beast.
The smaller Metalheads began to think second thoughts about attacking the huge Hura-Lycan, but Torn didn't wait for them to make their move. As soon as he sprouted fangs and claws, he pounced at them before they could flee. Like an unpredictble wild beast, he tore at them, slashing them to death and tearing their very limbs off with his jaws. Blood drenched the floor, staring the battleground a deep crimson.
Daxter: (As the battle continues) Hmm.eh?
He spotted that the ropes binding his friends was actually more vine-like than he thought. Infact, the he noticed that the beginning of the rope travelled all the way up to the top of the pillar like a single jungle vine. If he could sever the rope from up there, he could unwind it and free his friends!
Daxter: Like candy from a baby!
The otsel leaped up and followed the vine to the top. He grabbed the single vine and prepared to sink his teeth and nibble it into half.
That was until a sharp, angry hiss stopped him.
Daxter looked up (with his mouth still open) and stared into the yellow eyes of a snake-like Metalhead. The rope wasn't a vine at all!
Daxter: WHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAARRRRRHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
The snake Metalhead hissed at him in reply. Suddenly Daxter missed Jak more than ever.
The intense feeling swirled in a battle ready atmosphere as Jak and Corgoth prepared themselves for their clash. Corgoth circled the young man, growling hungrily, eyes locked on Jak's. Jak knew that guns were useless in this battle.
Corgoth leapt first, But Jak dodged it quickly. He quickly changed to his Dark Jak state, claws extended threateningly. Corgoth seemed amused.
Corgoth: (Luaghs) Yes, Jak that's right! Unleash that power of yours and use them! Let your rage twist you into ME!
Jak: RRRRAGGGH!
Corgoth roared out deafeningly, sending a jet of Dark Eco shoting towards Jak like some foul arrow. Quickly, Jak dodged the shot and sprang at Corgoth's face, claws extended and ready to be driven home.
A loud cry of rage and pain came from Corgoth's opened maw when Jak's claws slashed his face. The Metalhead reeled, hissing and writhing. Jak looked up and saw three long but fine jagged lines that cut even through the metal armour on Corgoth's face. He noticed that they were gleaming with a light similar to that on the Precursor Stone.
Corgoth: (In pain and slight confusion) No-what is this!!?
Jak himself didn't know what was really happening; but at least now he had an advantage over the giant Metalhead. Corgoth glared at him in cold fury.
Corgoth: DIE!!
The giant creature lunged for him, and again Jak leaped back. The Dark Warrior gave Corgoth another full arm swipe, making the Metalhead scream again.
Jak grinned with blooming confidence. He lunged at Corgoth almost eagerly, preparing to sink his claws into his face. But suddenly Corgoth twisted his long serpentine body and swung his tail around, catching Jak with a full whack in the ribs.
Jak: ARRRGH!
Corgoth: (Breathing deeply) Not so smug now, eh boy?
Jak crashed to the ground with bone breaking force. His mind reeled and he ached almost everywhere. Fighting against passing out, he shakily got up to his feet and readied himself once more.
Raven, for the first time in his life, felt a growing sense of panic well up his spine.
The dragon Metalhead slinked towards him, glaring and grinning. The vampire watched helplessly as it began to lick its fangs hungrily.
In his desperation and panic, Raven raised both his guns and shot the Metalhead right in the face. The Metalhead only had a split second to screech in pain as the Red Eco bullets tore its face and neck apart bit by bit.
Raven kept shotting it until his bullets ran out. The several bullets shells clinked noisily to the ground, echoing in the hollow chamber and the abyss behind him. The giant Metalhead, de-necked and beheaded, slumped noisily to the ground.
Raven: (Breathing deeply and starting to smile again) Whoo.
The vampire tucked his two empty guns into his coat pocket and calmly strode past the dead Metalhead. He walked off towards the tunnel to return back to Torn and Erol. He was only a few inches away from it when suddenly a hideous sucking noise stop him in his tracks. Raven slowly whirled around and froze.
The Vampire watched in cold horror as the Metalhead he had killed began to rise slowly and clumsily to its feet, its long headless neck swinging around, spraying blood to the floor. A knot formed uncomfortably in Raven's stomach when he saw a new head emerge from the beast's neck, replacing the head Raven had shot off.
Raven: Holy shit.
Erol's sharp ears caught the sound of a loud and pained scream. He recognized it at once.
Erol: Raven?
It was funny of Raven to scream-in pain and fear that is. Althoug Erol would never forgive him for turning him into a vampire, there were things that he found to be rather useful in his nw skills.
Looks like its time to really test them.
Raven let out a sharp and pained cry as the large Metalhead slashed at him in the chest with its massive claws. Blood seeped out of his wounds, staining his chest a deep crimson. The vampire hissed painfully, knowing that he was completely vulnerable like this. He looked up in horror as the giant Metalhead's head dove for him.
But the beast didn't manage to sink its fangs into the prone vampire; instead it let out a terrible scream and writhed about painfully. Raven looked up in shock and disbelief.
Raven: EROL!!
Erol had leaped from the tunnel and had thrushed a foot deep into the Metalhead's eye. Raven could see blood dripping from the damaged eye, but the beast was far from being mortally wounded.
The Metalhead, bristling at being pushed around by a small piece of prey, roared deafeningly and whipped out its large leathery wings, making it look twice as large and fierce.
Despite this, Raven saw that Erol wasn't giving up.
The Metalhead lunged for Erol again, but its missed the agile vampire by inches. Erol did not just merely dodge away, he had leapt on its head.
Raven couldn't help but to smile a bit at this. The guy was improving.
Sig the Hura-Lycan fell down on his back, pinned down by the throat by Kronos's mightly clawed hands. Their faces came close, snarling viciously at each other. Both were badly wounded, both were exhausted by their efforts to outlast one another. But both simply refused to give up.
Kronos: (In a metallic, wolf-like voice) Give it up, Sigfried. You can never win over me.
Sig didn't reply, his lips tight in a snarl. He suddenly noticed how loose the stalagtites on the ceiling behind Kronos looked. A plan began to form in his spinning mind.
Mustering the last bit of strenght he had, Sig let out a furious roar and brought a knee smartly up. He caught Kronos full in the stomach, making him whine.
Seizing his chance, the Hura-Lycan brought up his fist and brutally punched Kronos's face, so strong was the blow Kronos' jaw broke. Before Kronos could scream, Sig punched him again, sending him crashing full force into a tall stone column close to the loose stalagtites.
The force of it all shook the very walls and ceiling. The stalagtites came loose and before Kronos could get up and run, stabbed him right through to the ground.
Ignoring the pathetic dying moans from his fellow Hura-Lycan, Sig straightened himself up. Just as he was about to take a step, the stone cloumn Kronos collided with began to tremble dangerously, and in the next second came toppling down towards Sig!
Sig almost froze, but he managed to roll quickly out of the way. The column came crashing down onto the stone wall where Jak and Daxter were saperated. The wall fell and broke, revealling the doorway to the power chamber.
Sig slowly got up to his feet and began to breathe deeply. Slowly he turned back to himself, the green returning to his white eyes. He stared down at the ruined and crushed form of Kronos with revulsion. The Hura-Lycan was still partly alive, and was half-way back to his loathsome self. Kronos's eyes slowly swivelled up to met Sig's still burning glare.
Sig: (With revulsion) For Proteus.
And with that, he smashed a foot into Kronos's face.
Daxter screamed again as the snake Metalhead lunged for him.
The little otsel lost his grip on the stone clumn and felt himself plunging downwards to the ground below. He felt a dizzying pain as the back of his small skull collided with the hard stone ground, and he fought to stay concious.
Since Torn tore the rest of the Metalheads into limbless pieces, Daxter knew he was alone with this. He rolled away just in time to avoid the snake's fangs, but not quickly enough to get a sharp singe on his back.
Daxter: Weeeouch!!
The snake hissed as if mocking him, and lunged again. But as it did, it began to uncoil it self from the stone column, leaving his friends free to fall limply to the ground.
Well, atleast that's one problem solved. Now it's just a matter of keeping alive.
Daxter quickly launched himself into a narrow space in between two stalagtites. The snake followed, but it was so streamline it slid past the narrow space easily. Daxter knew this but that wasn't what he was after.
On being a little otsel, it was easy for him to leap around the stones. He ran, jumped and darted in dizzying zig-zags through a small maze of stalagtites and rocks, and all this while the snake never lost him. It followed him into every single twisted turn, to every single hole he leaped through-until it finally got him in a corner.
Daxter: Uh-oh.
The snake Metalhead hissed with horrible satisfaction; but despite this, Daxter didn't really worry. Through all those twisted zig-zags, Daxter was sure it got entangled somewhere. It worked loads of times.
He was so wrong.
The Metalhead snake slid towards him as if it were made out of liquid. Daxter's stomach shrank and his heart thumped wildly in his chest. And then without the slightest warning, the horrible thing lunged!
Daxter let out a howl and leaped crazily to his side. The snake hit the wall behind him with an almighty and sickening crunch and slumped limply to the ground. And adding insult to injury, loose rocks above it simply fell and crashed onto its head.
Daxter howled with laughter at this.
Raven watched with escalating interest and surprise as Erol battled with the huge dragon Metalhead. He had set himself at the back off its head, pulling at the long strands of skin at the side of its face like it were a rein. The Metalhead tried reach and bite the vampire off, but its efforts were in vain.
Suddenly it leaped off from the ground and flew into the air over the huge chasm. It slammed itself deliberately on the wall to try and throw Erol off, but Erol clung on hard. As it writhed around like some colossal rodeo horse, Erol began to strangely shot at the ceiling, making large stalagtites fall. And, as if it were meant to be, these stalagtites fell directly onto the huge Metalhead's wings, breaking them instantly.
Raven suddenly saw what Erol was trying to do. If he was surprised, or impressed for that matter, he didn't show it. Thought the plan was crazy and really life-risking, he had to admire Erol's perfect and accurate timing; and watched with cool interest as Erol shot another stalagtite down and snapped its other wing off.
The Metalhead let out a howl of pain before falling headfirst into the abyss. But before it did, Erol ran up along its back to the end of its tail, and quickly leaped from it to the safety of the ledge Raven was on. The Metalhead screamed as it fell, but its echoes soon died away.
Raven: (Shaking his head) I have never seen anything so risky in my life.
Erol: (Smirking) When you've got fangs and zero tolerance for risk, you'll get the idea.
(Now we come to the last and final battle)
Jak and Corgoth had battled almost to the point of exhaustion, but their sheer determination to put and end to one another was just too great.
Jak collided with the closed door of the power room as Corgoth hurled him through the air again. He wheezed in the air Corgoth's blow had forced out of him, gasping in exhaustion and pain. He bled from several different wounds, and his limbs were numb and senseless after the terrible fight.
He tried to get up, but he just couldn't find the strenght to.
Corgoth: (Laughing, but wheezing at the same time) Yes, Jak! Admit defeat!
Jak: (Breathing deeply) Never!
The young man tried to get up again, but his legs gave away before he could even stand straight. A moan escaped his bleeding lips ...
Corgoth: (Approaching the exhausted Dark Warrior) Despair, boy. There is no escape.
Jak closed his eyes tightly and forced himself to relax. But all he managed to do was make the pain feel even worst and he slid down the door in his exhaustion. His fingers suddenly brushed against a hard, but smooth surface; and almost at once a strange heat travelled through him.
The Precursor Stone.
Jak watched, awestruck, as suddenly the bright green stone began to vibrate at the touch of his fingers. The awesome green light erupted from within its emerald core, illuminating the whole chamber with bright green light. Corgoth screamed at the sight of it, but unlike the other Metalheads he remained on his spot, eyes not torn away from Jak.
Corgoth: Don't think this frightens me, boy! It's not the end yet!!!
Jak's fingers curled against the vibrating Stone, feeling its energy course through him. He knew the Stone can hurt the giant Metalhead, and he knew that the only way to kill him was to give him what he really wants.
Jak: (Pulls the Stone out of the depression) You want the Stone? Then go and TAKE IT!!
And without a moment's hesitation, Jak hurled the Precursor Stone at Corgoth with all his might. The Metalhead shrieked, but instead of fleeing it leaped for the falling Stone. He opened his jagged maw wide and to Jak's shock, swallowed it in one gulp.
What happened next was truly bizarre. Corgoth began to laugh; not in triumph, but in a mix of sheer ecstasy and fear. A burning light came from his eyes, and a howling gale of a scream trembled Jak to the bone. The giant Metalhead shone with a brilliant green light, and his massive body twitched and writhe into some surreal dance.
Jak knew this was his chance. He lunged forward, ignoring the screaming pain in his legs and stabbed all black claws into Corgoth's exposed chest.
To Dragon of Zanarkand:
This ain't actually a reply. Just to say that your fic (Torn Past) rocks! I suppose you got my dramatic review for it. (^_^)
To Darkleena:
Yo there, otsel! (You were transformed 2 one after that argument with Gol, right? Read it in ur bio) Is the story confusing? God, I am so sorry. I got carried away with the words and the ideas just go haywire. But I'm glad you liked my fic. You can check out the Glossary for more details. Thanks!
That kinda goes for the rest of you guys. Feel free to say something about the characters and how you feel about them. As for me, I kinda admire Raven's stingy, badass attitude. Oh yeah, and also feel free to ask any questions.
All right, enough of my relentless yakking. Enjoy!
VAE VICTUS! Thraxenel ...................................
Erol, Raven, Daxter and Torn ran up towards the upper chambers until they suddenly came upon another cave-like chamber. From their safe stone perch, they could see that the wide room below was occupied by a gigantic dragon- like Metalhead. All around it were large clumps of its foul black eggs, which were guarded by more smaller Metalheads. Right in the middle of the turmoil were the girls, Samos and young Denelle.
Torn: There must be about fifty of them down there, not to mention that big one.
Daxter: How are we ever gonna rescue them?
Raven: (Eyes scanning the area) I've an idea. You see that hole over there?
Raven pointed to a large hole in the middle of the wall not too far away from them. It led into a small crammed tunnel about thirty feet across. Its walls were lined with vicious looking stalagtites.
Raven: I'll distract the big one and bring it into the tunnel. Maybe I can find a way to kill it there. Here.
He took out two extra pistols and a collapsible scattergun and handed them to Torn and Erol. (I wonder where he kept them in the first place?)
Raven: As for you three, find a way to rescue your friends and stay alive while you're at it.
Torn: That's it?! That's your plan??
Raven: (Irritably) You got any better ideas?
Torn: Rav-
Too late, the vampire had already leaped down from the stone edge and dropped right in the midst of the Metalheads. The Metalheads, including the big one, stood startled and stiff at his sudden appearance.
At first, Erol feared that the Metalheads were going to put a quick end to him. But instead it was Raven who struck out first, shotting the Metalhead eggs and scattering the ones protecting them. On seeing this, the big one roared in fury.
Raven: (To the big one) Didn't like that, didn't ya?
It's only response was a deafening roar and opened with jaws wide to snap him up. But just seconds before the jaws closed in where Raven had once stood, the agile vampire leaped onto its head and jumped like a lithe- footed cat onto one of the ledges near the hole.
Raven: (Laughs tauntingly)
The Metalhead screamed out an enraged shriek and lunged for him, but again Raven evaded it with another acrobatic spring, this time into the tunnel.
Raven: Come and get me!
And with that, it leapt after him into the tunnel.
Torn watched with slight concern as the large Metalhead followed Raven into the hole. He had to make sure that the big creature was left intirely on to Raven's own hands. Once he was satisfied, he gestured the other two of his friends follow him.
The two seemed to hesitate, but they followed him eitherway. Erol was the first to send his two guns rattling, followed by Torn. Daxter, however, rushed up towards his imprisoned friends.
Daxter: Tess!! Tess!!!
He ran up towards them, and stared helplessly at his blonde beloved. All of them were unconcious, strapped to a tall stalagtite by green, vine like ropes.
Daxter: (Fiddling at the ropes) Oh-er-
Torn: (Shotting the Metalheads) Well don't just stand there, Daxter! Free them!
Daxter: Err-okay.
This is gonna take a while.
Jak eventaully reached the chamber where he had been attacked in. At then end of it was the door to the power-room, with the Precursor Stone still shining in the depression on its stone carved surface.
He ran towards it.
But then suddenly something stopped him in his tracks. There was a deafening crash on the rock walls behind him, and a gigantic hole appeared. Through the cloud of dust, Jak saw something huge emerge through it .
Jak: Oh my god.
Jak's eyes fell onto a enormous, sinister looking creature. It was a Metalhead, the biggest one had had ever seen. It was ten times more spetacular than Kor, and its body was lean and serpentine instead of huge and bulky. Its face looked like a cross between a snake and a wolf, with pale, pupiless yellow eyes that bore into Jak's own sockets. Metal spikes ridged its long back, ending with cruel, jagged spines at the end of its snaking tail. It had six, long, heavily muscled arms with each foot armed with long, cruel talons. A pale fringe of membrane rose like a crown along the back and sides of its face, held up togther by thin spines. It let out a ferocious growl at Jak, baring all of its fangs at once.
Jak: Corgoth .
Corgoth: (Laughs ironically) Yes . Come closer, morsel.
Jak backed off a bit.
Corgoth: Young Jak, renegade and redeemer of Haven City. How delightful it is to finally meet Kor's famed murderer .
Jak: So you know who I am, eh? How convenient.
Corgoth: On the contrary, my boy, I know you very well. We aren't so different, atleast not physically .
Corgoth slowly began to circle him, eyes fixed on Jak
Corgoth: (circling him) I was once a Precursor like you, strong, proud and independent.
Jak: (Watches silently as the serpentine beast continued to speak)
Corgoth: Until came that fateful day when Kor, my 'dear' father, shot me with that cruel jet of Dark Eco and ended my days as a Precursor forever.
Jak: So I've heard.
Corgoth: The essence of Dark Eco corrupted me, and as it tore me apart-I 'changed'. I was-incredibly powerful, so powerful I just couldn't stop changing. I became a Dark Warrior like you, but only for a brief time.But at long last, I knew I could never find the human in me anymore.
Corgoth's eyes glowed brighter as he stared at Jak.
Corgoth: The same fate will meet you, Jak.
The words burned in Jak's heart. Was it true? Were his dark powers merely the beginning of an even bigger evil? Had Baron Praxis known that he was a Precursor, and that by creating him, he would only risk making even another stronger Metalhead like Corgoth? (*For more details, check the Glossary at the bottom of this story)
Jak: You're wrong that that!
Corgoth: Is that so? But are we not brothers, born as Precursors, but corrupted by Dark Eco?
Jak: That's where you're wrong, Corgoth. You were twisted into that monster you are by your own greed. I don't have that in me.
Corgoth: (Chuckles) Your defiance surprises me, Jak. But you know you and I weren't the only Precursors he poisoned. I suppose you know who is the other?
Jak: Mar. But he defeated Kor with those powers. He didn't change into something like you.
Corgoth: (Chuckles) Yes, he didn't. But that jet of Dark Eco did change him like it changed you and me. Because of this, he was could not feel the pure energy of the Precursor Stone; his only remaining contact to his Precursor ancestory. Guess what he did to keep his linage pure?
Jak: (Who was now entranced by the story Corgoth was telling him) What?
Corgoth: He extracted them.
Jak: (With shock) No!
Corgoth: With the help of those foolish vampires, he tore the living darkness out of his veins. He never recovered since, but his linage remained pure after that.
Jak was stunned on hearing this. If this was true, then why did the Stone shine brightly at his touch when it should rightfully in Denelle's? He was entangled in more confusing thoughts, and at this Corgoth laughed.
Corgoth: Yes, yes. Why did the Stone resonate at your touch? Why you? And why now? But that doesn't matter. So long as you still stand, I cannot touch the Stone. I'll bring you down, boy. I will kill you .
Jak: (Threateningly) Not if I do first.
Sig felt a sharp pain rush up his back as his spine collided with the wall behind him. Kronos's killer claws dug into his abdomen, but before they could become truly fatal he Sig shoved him off quickly and slammed a fist into Kronos' wolf-like face, making the bigger Hura-Lycan whine in pain.
While Kronos reeled dizzily, Sig launched himself at him and gave him as many slashes as he could muster. His claws grated against Kronos' thick metal armour, sending sparks flying into the air.
Kronos let out an enraged howl, and once again the two spectacular beasts clashed, jaws snaping to find exposed skin and claws furiously slashing each other's metal hide. Their angry growls and roars echoed on the walls around them, reverberating like the hostile drumbeats of war.
Above the warring pair were dangerously loose looking stalagtites, their pointed tips sharp enough to crush even Metalhead armour. Kronos was the first to take note of this. So on seeing it as an advantage, he whacked Sig brutally in the ribs and punched him again with shocking strenght, sending the Hura-Lycan to collide with the wall once more. Despite his reeling mind, Sig managed to dodge three stalagtites that broke off the ceiling after his collision. They came to the ground with a stomach lurching crunch, and so heavy and sharp were their tips they sunk right into the very ground.
Sig knew he couldn't just fight like this anymore. That was it. Enough defense. It was time to change tactics.
Raven leaped into the tunnel and didn't wait to see if the huge dragon Metalhead was following him. He knew by the furious roaring behind him that it was anyway.
He concentrated on his task. Using his unrivalled vampire agility he dodged the several sharp stalagtites that lined the walls of the circular tunnel, leaping across huge cracks and springing on the walls to evade the Metalhead's outstretched claws. The Metalhead didn't care of what was in its path; it simply rampaged through the spike lined tunnel, crashing into everything in its path, blinded by its rage. Raven, far from being scared, was amused at its voracious temper.
But his amusement didn't last long.
Raven saw that the tunnel had come to an end. He leaped out of the tunnel and landed on the ground in front of it, only to realize an enourmous chasm in front of him.
Raven: Damn it.
Okay, he thought. You got yourself into this, you can get yourself out. He swore to himself for not hatching up a proper plan. Now he had to find a way to get out of this mess and fast. The Metalhead was already approaching.
Torn and Erol had shot several of the smaller Metalheads that guarded the eggs, but as a dozen died, a dozen more came in hordes to replace them.
Torn: Daxter!! Hurry up and free them!
Daxter: (Furiously biting at the ropes in vain) Do you think this is easy!!!!?
Torn: Erol, go help Daxter!
Erol: (Shotting off several Metalheads that tried to snatch away the little otsel) What do you think I'm trying to do after all this time!!!?
Torn: (Growls inhumanly) Rrrrrrggghhh .THAT'S IT!
Torn tossed the half-way empty scattergun away and, to the shock of all of them, let out a furious roar that trembled the very walls of the giant chamber. Erol saw that his eyes had already glowed a furious white, and in the next second metal armour and spines revealled themselves on Torn's skin, changing him once again into a Metalhead beast.
The smaller Metalheads began to think second thoughts about attacking the huge Hura-Lycan, but Torn didn't wait for them to make their move. As soon as he sprouted fangs and claws, he pounced at them before they could flee. Like an unpredictble wild beast, he tore at them, slashing them to death and tearing their very limbs off with his jaws. Blood drenched the floor, staring the battleground a deep crimson.
Daxter: (As the battle continues) Hmm.eh?
He spotted that the ropes binding his friends was actually more vine-like than he thought. Infact, the he noticed that the beginning of the rope travelled all the way up to the top of the pillar like a single jungle vine. If he could sever the rope from up there, he could unwind it and free his friends!
Daxter: Like candy from a baby!
The otsel leaped up and followed the vine to the top. He grabbed the single vine and prepared to sink his teeth and nibble it into half.
That was until a sharp, angry hiss stopped him.
Daxter looked up (with his mouth still open) and stared into the yellow eyes of a snake-like Metalhead. The rope wasn't a vine at all!
Daxter: WHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAARRRRRHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
The snake Metalhead hissed at him in reply. Suddenly Daxter missed Jak more than ever.
The intense feeling swirled in a battle ready atmosphere as Jak and Corgoth prepared themselves for their clash. Corgoth circled the young man, growling hungrily, eyes locked on Jak's. Jak knew that guns were useless in this battle.
Corgoth leapt first, But Jak dodged it quickly. He quickly changed to his Dark Jak state, claws extended threateningly. Corgoth seemed amused.
Corgoth: (Luaghs) Yes, Jak that's right! Unleash that power of yours and use them! Let your rage twist you into ME!
Jak: RRRRAGGGH!
Corgoth roared out deafeningly, sending a jet of Dark Eco shoting towards Jak like some foul arrow. Quickly, Jak dodged the shot and sprang at Corgoth's face, claws extended and ready to be driven home.
A loud cry of rage and pain came from Corgoth's opened maw when Jak's claws slashed his face. The Metalhead reeled, hissing and writhing. Jak looked up and saw three long but fine jagged lines that cut even through the metal armour on Corgoth's face. He noticed that they were gleaming with a light similar to that on the Precursor Stone.
Corgoth: (In pain and slight confusion) No-what is this!!?
Jak himself didn't know what was really happening; but at least now he had an advantage over the giant Metalhead. Corgoth glared at him in cold fury.
Corgoth: DIE!!
The giant creature lunged for him, and again Jak leaped back. The Dark Warrior gave Corgoth another full arm swipe, making the Metalhead scream again.
Jak grinned with blooming confidence. He lunged at Corgoth almost eagerly, preparing to sink his claws into his face. But suddenly Corgoth twisted his long serpentine body and swung his tail around, catching Jak with a full whack in the ribs.
Jak: ARRRGH!
Corgoth: (Breathing deeply) Not so smug now, eh boy?
Jak crashed to the ground with bone breaking force. His mind reeled and he ached almost everywhere. Fighting against passing out, he shakily got up to his feet and readied himself once more.
Raven, for the first time in his life, felt a growing sense of panic well up his spine.
The dragon Metalhead slinked towards him, glaring and grinning. The vampire watched helplessly as it began to lick its fangs hungrily.
In his desperation and panic, Raven raised both his guns and shot the Metalhead right in the face. The Metalhead only had a split second to screech in pain as the Red Eco bullets tore its face and neck apart bit by bit.
Raven kept shotting it until his bullets ran out. The several bullets shells clinked noisily to the ground, echoing in the hollow chamber and the abyss behind him. The giant Metalhead, de-necked and beheaded, slumped noisily to the ground.
Raven: (Breathing deeply and starting to smile again) Whoo.
The vampire tucked his two empty guns into his coat pocket and calmly strode past the dead Metalhead. He walked off towards the tunnel to return back to Torn and Erol. He was only a few inches away from it when suddenly a hideous sucking noise stop him in his tracks. Raven slowly whirled around and froze.
The Vampire watched in cold horror as the Metalhead he had killed began to rise slowly and clumsily to its feet, its long headless neck swinging around, spraying blood to the floor. A knot formed uncomfortably in Raven's stomach when he saw a new head emerge from the beast's neck, replacing the head Raven had shot off.
Raven: Holy shit.
Erol's sharp ears caught the sound of a loud and pained scream. He recognized it at once.
Erol: Raven?
It was funny of Raven to scream-in pain and fear that is. Althoug Erol would never forgive him for turning him into a vampire, there were things that he found to be rather useful in his nw skills.
Looks like its time to really test them.
Raven let out a sharp and pained cry as the large Metalhead slashed at him in the chest with its massive claws. Blood seeped out of his wounds, staining his chest a deep crimson. The vampire hissed painfully, knowing that he was completely vulnerable like this. He looked up in horror as the giant Metalhead's head dove for him.
But the beast didn't manage to sink its fangs into the prone vampire; instead it let out a terrible scream and writhed about painfully. Raven looked up in shock and disbelief.
Raven: EROL!!
Erol had leaped from the tunnel and had thrushed a foot deep into the Metalhead's eye. Raven could see blood dripping from the damaged eye, but the beast was far from being mortally wounded.
The Metalhead, bristling at being pushed around by a small piece of prey, roared deafeningly and whipped out its large leathery wings, making it look twice as large and fierce.
Despite this, Raven saw that Erol wasn't giving up.
The Metalhead lunged for Erol again, but its missed the agile vampire by inches. Erol did not just merely dodge away, he had leapt on its head.
Raven couldn't help but to smile a bit at this. The guy was improving.
Sig the Hura-Lycan fell down on his back, pinned down by the throat by Kronos's mightly clawed hands. Their faces came close, snarling viciously at each other. Both were badly wounded, both were exhausted by their efforts to outlast one another. But both simply refused to give up.
Kronos: (In a metallic, wolf-like voice) Give it up, Sigfried. You can never win over me.
Sig didn't reply, his lips tight in a snarl. He suddenly noticed how loose the stalagtites on the ceiling behind Kronos looked. A plan began to form in his spinning mind.
Mustering the last bit of strenght he had, Sig let out a furious roar and brought a knee smartly up. He caught Kronos full in the stomach, making him whine.
Seizing his chance, the Hura-Lycan brought up his fist and brutally punched Kronos's face, so strong was the blow Kronos' jaw broke. Before Kronos could scream, Sig punched him again, sending him crashing full force into a tall stone column close to the loose stalagtites.
The force of it all shook the very walls and ceiling. The stalagtites came loose and before Kronos could get up and run, stabbed him right through to the ground.
Ignoring the pathetic dying moans from his fellow Hura-Lycan, Sig straightened himself up. Just as he was about to take a step, the stone cloumn Kronos collided with began to tremble dangerously, and in the next second came toppling down towards Sig!
Sig almost froze, but he managed to roll quickly out of the way. The column came crashing down onto the stone wall where Jak and Daxter were saperated. The wall fell and broke, revealling the doorway to the power chamber.
Sig slowly got up to his feet and began to breathe deeply. Slowly he turned back to himself, the green returning to his white eyes. He stared down at the ruined and crushed form of Kronos with revulsion. The Hura-Lycan was still partly alive, and was half-way back to his loathsome self. Kronos's eyes slowly swivelled up to met Sig's still burning glare.
Sig: (With revulsion) For Proteus.
And with that, he smashed a foot into Kronos's face.
Daxter screamed again as the snake Metalhead lunged for him.
The little otsel lost his grip on the stone clumn and felt himself plunging downwards to the ground below. He felt a dizzying pain as the back of his small skull collided with the hard stone ground, and he fought to stay concious.
Since Torn tore the rest of the Metalheads into limbless pieces, Daxter knew he was alone with this. He rolled away just in time to avoid the snake's fangs, but not quickly enough to get a sharp singe on his back.
Daxter: Weeeouch!!
The snake hissed as if mocking him, and lunged again. But as it did, it began to uncoil it self from the stone column, leaving his friends free to fall limply to the ground.
Well, atleast that's one problem solved. Now it's just a matter of keeping alive.
Daxter quickly launched himself into a narrow space in between two stalagtites. The snake followed, but it was so streamline it slid past the narrow space easily. Daxter knew this but that wasn't what he was after.
On being a little otsel, it was easy for him to leap around the stones. He ran, jumped and darted in dizzying zig-zags through a small maze of stalagtites and rocks, and all this while the snake never lost him. It followed him into every single twisted turn, to every single hole he leaped through-until it finally got him in a corner.
Daxter: Uh-oh.
The snake Metalhead hissed with horrible satisfaction; but despite this, Daxter didn't really worry. Through all those twisted zig-zags, Daxter was sure it got entangled somewhere. It worked loads of times.
He was so wrong.
The Metalhead snake slid towards him as if it were made out of liquid. Daxter's stomach shrank and his heart thumped wildly in his chest. And then without the slightest warning, the horrible thing lunged!
Daxter let out a howl and leaped crazily to his side. The snake hit the wall behind him with an almighty and sickening crunch and slumped limply to the ground. And adding insult to injury, loose rocks above it simply fell and crashed onto its head.
Daxter howled with laughter at this.
Raven watched with escalating interest and surprise as Erol battled with the huge dragon Metalhead. He had set himself at the back off its head, pulling at the long strands of skin at the side of its face like it were a rein. The Metalhead tried reach and bite the vampire off, but its efforts were in vain.
Suddenly it leaped off from the ground and flew into the air over the huge chasm. It slammed itself deliberately on the wall to try and throw Erol off, but Erol clung on hard. As it writhed around like some colossal rodeo horse, Erol began to strangely shot at the ceiling, making large stalagtites fall. And, as if it were meant to be, these stalagtites fell directly onto the huge Metalhead's wings, breaking them instantly.
Raven suddenly saw what Erol was trying to do. If he was surprised, or impressed for that matter, he didn't show it. Thought the plan was crazy and really life-risking, he had to admire Erol's perfect and accurate timing; and watched with cool interest as Erol shot another stalagtite down and snapped its other wing off.
The Metalhead let out a howl of pain before falling headfirst into the abyss. But before it did, Erol ran up along its back to the end of its tail, and quickly leaped from it to the safety of the ledge Raven was on. The Metalhead screamed as it fell, but its echoes soon died away.
Raven: (Shaking his head) I have never seen anything so risky in my life.
Erol: (Smirking) When you've got fangs and zero tolerance for risk, you'll get the idea.
(Now we come to the last and final battle)
Jak and Corgoth had battled almost to the point of exhaustion, but their sheer determination to put and end to one another was just too great.
Jak collided with the closed door of the power room as Corgoth hurled him through the air again. He wheezed in the air Corgoth's blow had forced out of him, gasping in exhaustion and pain. He bled from several different wounds, and his limbs were numb and senseless after the terrible fight.
He tried to get up, but he just couldn't find the strenght to.
Corgoth: (Laughing, but wheezing at the same time) Yes, Jak! Admit defeat!
Jak: (Breathing deeply) Never!
The young man tried to get up again, but his legs gave away before he could even stand straight. A moan escaped his bleeding lips ...
Corgoth: (Approaching the exhausted Dark Warrior) Despair, boy. There is no escape.
Jak closed his eyes tightly and forced himself to relax. But all he managed to do was make the pain feel even worst and he slid down the door in his exhaustion. His fingers suddenly brushed against a hard, but smooth surface; and almost at once a strange heat travelled through him.
The Precursor Stone.
Jak watched, awestruck, as suddenly the bright green stone began to vibrate at the touch of his fingers. The awesome green light erupted from within its emerald core, illuminating the whole chamber with bright green light. Corgoth screamed at the sight of it, but unlike the other Metalheads he remained on his spot, eyes not torn away from Jak.
Corgoth: Don't think this frightens me, boy! It's not the end yet!!!
Jak's fingers curled against the vibrating Stone, feeling its energy course through him. He knew the Stone can hurt the giant Metalhead, and he knew that the only way to kill him was to give him what he really wants.
Jak: (Pulls the Stone out of the depression) You want the Stone? Then go and TAKE IT!!
And without a moment's hesitation, Jak hurled the Precursor Stone at Corgoth with all his might. The Metalhead shrieked, but instead of fleeing it leaped for the falling Stone. He opened his jagged maw wide and to Jak's shock, swallowed it in one gulp.
What happened next was truly bizarre. Corgoth began to laugh; not in triumph, but in a mix of sheer ecstasy and fear. A burning light came from his eyes, and a howling gale of a scream trembled Jak to the bone. The giant Metalhead shone with a brilliant green light, and his massive body twitched and writhe into some surreal dance.
Jak knew this was his chance. He lunged forward, ignoring the screaming pain in his legs and stabbed all black claws into Corgoth's exposed chest.